Falconers who enjoy hunting with their birds of prey have found the ideal ground for their passion at State Game Lands 43 in Elverson, writes Jared Brey for Philadelphia Weekly.

Hunting with birds of prey, otherwise known as the ancient sport of falconry, takes patience and care. According to Courtney Douds, who hunts in Chester County with her red-tailed hawk named Addy, the humans are the dogs in this scenario.

The hawks, which are unrestrained but have bells attached to their ankles, fly high above looking for squirrels and rabbits to catch. The humans are there to follow the bird’s lead.

Douds, who lives in West Philly and works as a psychoanalyst and a piano teacher, had been training her newest bird, Addy, for around a month. She trapped her in the wild before letting her fly without being tied to a creance, the long training leash used by falconers.

To ensure her bird does not run away, which has happened to her before, Douds carries a dead rat in her pocket when hunting.

Once the bird returns with its prey, Douds throws her a lure to distract her while taking the catch. This is done to control the bird’s weight.

Read more about falconry in Chester County in Philadelphia Weekly here.

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